Donn McClean on the Derby: 'The step up in trip will suit him' By irishracing.com newsRacing broadcasters Donn McClean and Ed Quigley joined Emma Nagle on our 2025 Epsom Preview to offer their opinion on the feature race. Donn McClean reveals two fancies on Saturday in the main event and in the ultra-competitive Epsom Dash. The Derby, 3:30 Saturday Donn's Selection: Pride of Arras I'm going to stick with Pride of Arras. I just thought what he did in the Dante was very good. I think he's going to improve again, that was his first run of the season, only his second run ever. The step up in trip will suit him. Ralph Beckett is a very astute trainer, Rosss Ryan is a good rider. The draw's not ideal but not too bad either, so I think he's got plenty in his favour. In the Dante he showed a really good attitude to go through a narrowing gap. It was only his second ever run, his first run of the season. He was weak in the market beforehand, so for him to do what he did for me was really impressive. His dam's two wins were over a mile and a half, he's a half-brother to Sweet Fantasy who won over a mile and a half including at Epsom, and over hurdles. He's a half-brother to Latin Verse who won over a mile and a half and over hurdles. So I don't think there's any doubt about Pride of Aras staying the trip. The fact that he had enough pace to win a Dante, that's a positive and that he could be even better over a mile and a half. Epsom Dash, 2:45 Saturday Donn's Selection: Spartan Arrow If forced in the Dash, Spartan Arrow is the one that I was looking at. He was well beaten last time at York, but his previous run at Epsom at the Blue Riband meeting was a really good run over the course and distance when he won really impressively by two and a half lengths, which is a fair margin in a sprint, especially at Epsom. He’s up to a mark of 99 now, so seven pounds higher, but I think back here that’s more than surmountable. He was racing in cheekpieces for the first time that day and they’re obviously retained, so that’s a positive for me. He’s got a draw in stall 18. It’s not a deal breaker, I think the draw isn’t as crucial anymore but you’d still prefer to be high than low. Spartan Arrow is a bit of a price and he’s got plenty in his favor. Team views on the Epsom Derby 2025 Wide Open Race Donn McClean It seems gloriously wide open and I wouldn’t be shocked if something at a bigger price went and won it. Ed Quigley This does have quite a muddling look to it, I also wouldn’t be shocked if we had a little bit of a minor boil over, shall we say. On What Makes the Derby Unique Donn McClean They’re only three-year-olds, a lot of them have run maybe once or twice this year. You’re trying to marry up old two-year-old form with early-season three-year-old efforts. Ed Quigley We often talk about how deep the ground gets in winter handicaps but this year’s Derby could be affected by weather just as much. If this ends up a soft ground Derby, there’s got to be alarm bells. On Aidan O’Brien and Trainer Records Donn McClean You can’t start any Derby analysis without Aidan O’Brien, he’s won 10 of them. Three of his last five Derby winners weren’t even the stable number one. You have to respect all his runners, not just the favourite. On Ryan Moore’s Influence Donn McClean Ryan doesn’t do things without thinking deeply. We don’t know how marginal the decision was, but market moves tend to follow him. Ed Quigley Ryan Moore is close to these horses every day. His decision to ride Delacroix is telling. Get €50 with Betfred to spend on the action at Epsom: Watch our full Epsom Derby Preview
